ABSTRACT
The Crater Mountain Wildlife Management Area (WMA) in Papua New Guinea is an Integrated Conservation and Development Project (ICDP). International and national scientists and students conduct research projects and training courses at the rustic field research facilities in the WMA. This chapter outlines the steps taken by an ICDP project team in developing an interdisciplinary monitoring program that is being used to test the hypothesis that implementation of selected socioeconomic development objectives will result in biodiversity conservation. The team found that, when working on a complex conservation and development initiative, a conceptual model was an essential tool for uniting an interdisciplinary, multinational project team in ongoing focused discussion and planning. Community-based projects that provide socioeconomic incentives for local participation in conservation have been implemented as one method for establishing biodiversity conservation areas Conservation action and project participation is tracked through the recording of minutes at village management committee meetings, written letters, and reports.
